HU UPDATE - NON FOOD PUB GRANT ROLLOUT AND FAQ - BEER DUTY PETITION

12 January 2021

NON-FOOD PUB GRANT ROLLOUT

The Department for the Economy began the rollout of the support package for traditional non-food pubs yesterday (Monday 11th January).

The £10.6million fund covers closures between July – September last year. The Department will contact eligible premises by email, so you currently do not need to take any action.

Hospitality Ulster continues to lobby for the immediate release of the outstanding Large Hospitality grants and the Directors grants.

We are also working closely with our counterparts in Westminster RE: a continued VAT cut to include alcohol, and a rates holiday for 2021/22.

NON-FOOD PUB GRANT FAQ

For a list of frequently asked questions relating to the traditional non-food pub support scheme, please CLICK HERE

'LONG LIVE THE LOCAL' HIGHLIGHTS THAT UK PAID MORE THAN £300M BEER DUTY IN DECEMBER ALONE, DESPITE HUGELY CHALLENGING YEAR FOR PUBS AND SUPPLIERS: SIGN THE PETITION

The UK Government collected £337 Million in duty on beer in December, despite the mass closure of pubs under Covid guidelines. This is more than the entire annual duty bill in 19 other European countries, according to analysis by campaign group, Long Live The Local, of British Beer and Pub Association & Brewers of Europe data.

The data highlights just how unfairly high UK beer duty is in comparison to most other countries in Europe. UK citizens pay more than 54p (54.2p) in duty on every pint (5% ABV). Comparatively, in Spain and Germany the beer duty rates amount to just 5p per pint (5.1p and 4.8p respectively).

Projections from the British Beer & Pub Association estimate that the impact of COVID-19 will reduce beer sales by 16% this December, yet even with that huge decrease, the UK government will still collect £337 Million in Beer Duty. This is more than 19 other EU countries will pay all year.

This punishingly high level of beer duty is impacting an industry already at breaking point after a challenging year of lockdown closures and severe trading restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. That’s why Long Live The Local is calling on Government to cut beer duty in the Spring Budget to help pubs and brewers recover from a devastating year that has taken many to the brink of permanent closure. So far, almost 500,000 have signed a petition asking for a cut in beer duty and over 250,000 people have written to their MP.

Emma McClarkin, CEO British Beer and Pub Association commented, "We need the UK Government to help our great domestic brewing and pub sector just as Governments in Europe support their precious brewing and hospitality sectors. The Budget in Spring next year provides an excellent opportunity for our Government to show their support for the 2,000 breweries and 47,000 pubs in the UK. A significant cut in Beer Duty will go some way in helping them recover from a disastrous 2020.”

David Cunningham, Long Live The Local Programme Director, commented, "Beer Duty in the UK is unfairly high compared to most other European countries. Since the Long Live The Local campaign began, we have gathered almost 500,000 signatures on our petition and 250,000 people have written to their MPs asking for a cut in beer duty-showing just how much people care about pubs and brewers. Now more than ever, they need our support, so I urge everyone who wants to protect our nation’s great brewing and pub heritage to visit our website and sign the petition and write to your MP."

To sign the petition and for more information, please CLICK HERE